Agenda item

The Planning Policy Lead Officer, outlined a report to consider the Council’s response to the consultation document which had been prepared for a new joint South Bucks and Chiltern Local Plan.

The Committee was reminded that until recently South Bucks and Chiltern Councils were preparing separate Local Plans for their respective districts and  South Bucks had produced a Regulation 18 Consultation Document in February 2015. Slough BC had responded in April 2015 in compliance with the Duty to Co-operate.  South Bucks and Chiltern had confirmed in November 2015 that  they would now produce a joint Local Plan. The Officer discussed their resulting need to consult  by 14^th March 2016,

in order to seek views on the scope of the plan and its objectives.

The Officer advised that consultation would close on 14th March 2016 and the  Councils then intended to produce a Preferred Options consultation in October/November 2016 followed by a Draft Plan for public consultation in early 2017 and submission later that year.

The joint plan would be prepared on the basis that there was a need for 15,100 houses to be built between 2014 and 2036, comprising 7,800 in South Bucks and 7,300 in Chiltern but there would not be separate allocations for the two districts. There was also a need for an additional 15 hectares of employment land of which 13 hectares was required in South Bucks.

The Officer advised that the Councils were exploring whether there were options to meet their needs outside of the joint local plan area and submissions had been made to the Aylesbury Vale Local Plan Issues and Options consultation requesting that they explore the scope for 7,500 dwellings and supporting employment needs from the Chiltern/South Bucks Plan area to be accommodated in Aylesbury Vale.

It was noted that the consultation document stated that there appeared to be no scope within the joint plan area to accommodate any unmet need from adjacent areas, but this would be kept under review. It was highlighted that this was a major issue for Slough because in the Council’s representations made to South Bucks’ previous Regulation 18 consultation it was made clear that there was a need to at least test the development of urban extensions to Slough.

The  Officer advised that the Councils intended to test a number of spatial strategy options and discussed the eleven options within the consultation document, which included making more efficient use of land within built up areas and extensions to the principle settlement areas.  It was highlighted that  two sites to the west and south of George Green had been identified but no other sites adjacent to Slough. Also, sites to the north of Farnham Royal and south of Stoke Pages had been identified.

The Officer advised that although South Bucks and Chiltern were considering so many options, the concern remained that they were still not considering Slough BC’s preferred option for the northern expansion of Slough through the creation of a new ‘Garden Suburb’ on land adjoining Slough.  It was therefore suggested that South Bucks and Chiltern Councils should be requested to develop a comprehensive strategic planning option which would consider a major urban expansion of Slough combined with selective growth around Taplow and Iver stations.

The Committee noted the detail of the questions set out within the consultation document and the draft detailed Slough BC responses.  

The Officer advised that meetings had been held at Member and Officer level to discuss the key planning issues in accordance with the Duty to Co-operate and it was suggested that these should continue to be used to try to resolve outstanding issues.

The Committee was referred to a further abbreviated report set out in the amendment sheet and the Officer responded to a number of questions of detail.

Resolved-

a)  That South Bucks and Chiltern Councils be thanked for consulting Slough BC on the new Joint Local Plan for South Bucks and Chiltern Districts;

b)  That the Councils should be formally requested to consider the scope in the new Joint Local Plan for an urban extension of Slough in the form of a new ‘Garden Suburb’ which will help to meet the housing needs within the area;

c)  That the detailed comments set out in paragraphs 5.21- 5.45 of the report be agreed and forwarded to South Bucks and Chiltern Districts together with the information set out on the tabled amendment sheet, in response to the Consultation;

d)  That delegated powers be granted to the Planning Manager to make further detailed comments on the technical matters within the consultation document and supporting evidence base;

e)  That the Council would welcome the opportunity to continue to discuss planning matters in accordance with the Duty To Co-operate.